Wingnuts Break Late Tie and Hang on to Win Series

Published on August 4, 2015 under American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release


OTTAWA, ONTARIO (August 4, 2015) - For the first time in nine games the Wichita Wingnuts were the first team to score on Tuesday night in Ottawa. Despite an early 4-0 lead, the Wingnuts needed a big hit from Leo Vargas in the eighth inning to plate the winning run by breaking a 4-4 tie. The Wingnuts took three of four games from the champions.

The Wingnuts (42-27) made a dent on the scoreboard in the very first inning off of Ottawa starter Wilmer Font. David Espinosa reached on a one out single to jumpstart the offense and advanced to second shortly afterward on a passed ball charged to Bryce Massanari. Veteran Matt Padgett quickly followed with a sharp single to drive in the game's first run with his 40th RBI of the season.

The Nuts added to their lead with a crooked number in the third inning. Jayce Ray began the frame by drawing a walk from Font. Espinosa then lifted a ball toward left that Alex Nunez could not corral. The ball rolled into the corner, allowing Ray to score and Espinosa to race into third. The triple was the 100th in the 15-year career of the Miami, Florida native. The outfielder scored on a wild pitch two batters later to make the score 3-0. T.J. Mittelstaedt and Joash Brodin reached on a walk and single respectively in front of Brent Dean. The catcher drove in his 16th run of the season with a single and the lead grew to 4-0.

Alex Boshers, who was making his first professional start, held the Champions (28-35) without a run until the bottom of the third. Albert Cartwright drew a walk to begin the inning and raced over to third on another single by Roberto Ramirez. A fielder's choice ground out by Sebastien Boucher, with the defense trying to turn two led to the Champions first run.

A walk and a hit by pitch of the eight and nine hitters in the fifth inning allowed Ottawa to close the gap even further. The runners were each bunted into scoring position which allowed Ramirez to score them both on a double over the head of Espinosa in right. Sudden;y, the champions trailed by just run. Boshers lasted 5.0 innings and allowed three runs on three hits.

Scott Kuzminsky came on and worked a scoreless sixth inning, but could not hold the lead in the seventh. Daniel Bick reached base with an infield single and eventually stole second. A fly ball off the bat of Cartwright was good for the first out, but a fielder's choice moved the tying run to third. Iden Nazario entered from the bullpen and his first pitch got away from Brent Dean and allowed Bick to slide in safely and tie the game.

In the top of the very next inning the resilient Wingnuts grabbed the lead again. Brodin lined a single to start the stanza and Dean bunted him into scoring position. After a balk from Tyler Wilson (1-4) moved him to third, Vargas bounced a single through the infield to put Wichita ahead 5-4.

Nazario (1-0) worked a scoreless eighth inning and then passed the ball to Daniel Bennett for the ninth. The right-hander recorded his first save of the season by retiring the side in order with two strikeouts.

Espinosa led the Wingnuts' offense by going 3-4 with an RBI, two runs scored, and reaching base safely in four of five trips to the plate.

The road trip will continue on Wednesday night in Quebec City at 7:05 p.m. RHP Jason Van Skike (6-3) will start the opener. For information on season tickets, group outings, and party packages, call the Wingnuts' main office at (316) 264-NUTS, or visit the Wingnuts' official website at www.wichitawingnuts.com.

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